Sharks and Tigers share points after low-scoring draw, Lions stitch up top spot and Kangas claim first win
Albany and Railways have played out the first draw of the 2023 Great Southern Football League women’s competition.
Scores were locked at 10 points each at three-quarter-time and both sides could only manage one behind despite their desperate efforts in the dying stages of the round eight clash.
Played in wet and cold conditions at Collingwood Park on Friday night, both sides kicked their sole goal in the third term.
The Tigers led by two points at quarter-time and the Sharks trimmed the deficit to one by the long break.
Scoring was difficult in the heavy conditions but Stephanie Grant got the first on the board for the Sharks and Tigers captain Tiarna Delli-Benedetti kicked a major at the other end.
Both teams tried to break the deadlock in the final term but the siren sounded with the scores locked at 1.5 (11) apiece.
Alethea Ball, Taiah Curtis, Emma Gooderson and Lindy Woods were the best contributors for the Sharks.
For the reigning premiers Kirsty Smith, Laura Cinanni, Ruby Bradbury and Chelsea Geddes were influential.
The draw leaves the two sides locked on 22 points going into the final two rounds of the regular season.
The Tigers hold second spot as a result of r superior percentage but the Sharks still have five wins and face Royals and Mt Barker in the final two rounds.
The Lions stitched up top spot with a 19-point win over Denmark-Walpole at McLean Park on Friday.
The win pushes the Lions 10 points clear on top of the ladder and they will host a semifinal against the fourth-ranked team next month.
No goals were kicked in the first three quarters but the visitors, through Gracie Gibson and Megan Green, booted two vital majors in the fourth.
Those two goals ensured the Lions remain unbeaten after eight games this season, downing the Magpies 2.7 (19) to no score.
Sophie Loveridge, Nicola Thomas, Narelle Humphries and Paige Ogden were instrumental for the winners who led by five points at half-time.
The Magpies struggled forward of centre but had strong performances from Sophie Coates, Karis Aplin, Laura Webster and Emma Henderson.
North Albany remain alive in the race for the top four after winning their first game of the season.
The Kangas produced a terrific display at home, kicking six goals as they ran out emphatic 32-point winners over Mt Barker.
Co-captain Laura Archer was outstanding in the win with two goals as the Kangas set up the victory by kicking the only two goals of the opening half.
Their margin stretched to 12 points by the last change and they finished full of running to win 6.7 (43) to 1.5 (11) in the end.
The Kangas were best served by Lilly Briscoe, Mabel Markey and Bridget Brown who all kicked one goal each, while Pippa Wilson won plenty of the ball.
Joanne Porteous, Tanesha Coyne, Simone Pantall (one goal) and Sarah Eisenberg toiled hard for the Bulls.
The Kangas and Bulls sit outside the top four but are only two games adrift of the fourth-placed Magpies.
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